Journal box and lubricator



March 31,1942. ,e. MCCORMICK 2,278,404

JOURNAL BOX AND LUBRIGATOR Original Filed July 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1942.

' e. M CORMICK JOURNAL BOX AND LUBRICATOR Original Filed July 9, 1938 3 Sheets-sheaf. 2

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March 31, 1942. a; MQCORMICK JOURNAL BOX AND LUBRICATOR Original Filed July 9; 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I JOURNAL BOX AND LUBRICATOR George McCor'mickltedwood City, Calif. Substituted for abandoned application No.

218,359, July 9, 1938.

cembcr 12, 1940, Serial No. 369,726

7 Claims. (91. 30888) This invention relates in general to journal boxes, and more particularly to novel improvements in a journal box and lubricator construc tion especially adapted for mounting either inside or outside a wheel on a journal, as is commonly done with the journals of locomotives. The present application is a substitute for my abandoned application Serial No. 218,359, filed July 9, 1938.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a journal box whose bottom portion is formed as a readily removable oil container or cellar adapted to house lubricating means for automatically raising the oil to the surface of the journal and for supplying limited amounts of oil to the face of the wheel hub adjacent the end of the box.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a resilient mounting for the cellar in such. a journal box to enable the cellar toabsorb excessive lateral shocks from the wheel by permitting limited resilient movement of the cellar relative to the box longitudinally of the journal, while insuring proper lubrication of the hub face of the wheel.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of manually operable means for securely locking the cellar in the journal box, while permitting its ready removal from the box for inspection, cleaning, vor replacement of its lubricator, without necessitating anydismantling g of the box.

, Another object of the invention is the provision of automatically operable latching means, in conjunction with such locking means, for insuring against accidental displacement of the cellar from the journal box in case of failure to move the manually operable locking means to locking position after insertion of the cellar into the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the level of oil within the cellar and means for conveniently filling the cellar, without necessitating the removal thereof from the journal box.

Another object of the invention is the pro- This application Dei elevation and the right half in section;

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section taken substan'tially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

the hub lubricators taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the spacer or binder, as seen from the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the device of Figs 1 and 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the cellar; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail vertical sections taken through the lower and upper halves of the dust guard, respectively, which is provided at the inner or right-hand end' of the unit of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral II indicates a journal having a wheel at its outer end, the hub portion of which is designated by reference numeral I2. A journal box l3 of usual construction is adapted to receive the journal II, being closed at the top andopen at the bottom and having any desired type of brass I4 mounted in well-known manner in the upper portion thereof. The sides of the journal box I3 are provided with vertical reinforcing flanges I5, forming the usual yoke, which terminate at their lower ends in apertured lugs I6.

vision in a journal box having a re'movable cellar A removable spacer or binder, indicated generally by reference numeral I1 and shown in detail in Fig. 6, extends across thebottom of the journal box I3 between the lugs IS. The spacer I1 is in the form of an open rectangular frame having transverse front .and rear members l8 and longitudinally disposed side members I9 formed integrally with each other. The longitudinal members I 9 are disposed above the transverse member I8, and the latter are provided with suitable apertures extending therethrough to receive spacer bolts 2| (Figs. 1, 4 and 7). The bolts 2| also extend through the associated apertured lugs IE to tie the sides of the journal box I3 togetherbeneath the journal I I and rigidly secure the spacer I! in position.

The spacer I 1 acts as a guide and support for a removable oil container or cellar, indicated generally by reference numeral 22 and shown alone in Fig. 8, which is slidably positioned beneath the journal II in the lower part of the journal box I3. The cellar 22 is in the form of a rectangular metal receptacle, which is preferably cast from a suitable light-weight aluminum alloy, having side walls 23 extending up nearly to the center of the journal II, and front and rear, or inner and outer, end walls 24 and 25, respectively, which are curved to fit closely beneath the journal. The side walls 23 are offset adjacent the lower ends thereof to provide shoulders 26 (Fig. 1) which rest upon the upper surfaces of the longitudinally extending portions IQ of the spacer I1. The cellar22 is thus supported on the spacer I1. The bottom of ,the

cellar is provided at each end with guide lugs 21 having a sliding fit with corresponding re-' cesses.28 disposed in the central portions of the upper surfaces of the transverse members l8 of the spacer l1. The cellar 22 is thus properly positioned in the journal box |3 on the spacer I1, and may he slid out of the box horizontally toward the inside, i. e., away from the wheel, and to the right in Fig. 7. The upper edges of the side walls 23 of the cellar are beveled inwardly, as shown best in Fig. 1, so as to fit beneath and outwardly of longitudinal, beveled flanges 29 provided on the inner sides of the journal box l3. Oil that is thrown or wiped from the surface of the journal I will thus be prevented from escaping between the side walls of the journal box and cellar, and will be forced to drain back into the cellar.

The cellar 22 is adaptedtocontain oil or other suitable liquid lubricant, and is provided interiorly thereof with suitable removable means for raising the oil from the bottom of the cellar to the under surface of the journal example of such means, a lubricator 3| of the type shown and described in my prior United States Patent No. 2,143,954, issued January 17, 1939, is illustrated in operative position within the cellar in Figs. 1 and 7. The lubricator 3| comprises a curved, perforate plate 32 upon the upper surface of which is disposed a suitable absorbent pad 33 having wicks extending downwardly therefrom, through the plate and into the oil in the bottom portion of the cellar. pair of toggle-like bails 34, hinged to the under side of, the plate 32 and inclined downwardly therefrom, are provided on their lower portions with rollers 35 resting on a metal wear plate 36 which is removably disposed on the bottom of r the cellar 22. Springs 31 are connected at their opposite ends to the bails 34 to urge the lower.

As an' rial from finding its way between the journal and the cellar and into the latter, and for preventing the escape of oil from the cellar. The upper portion of the inner end wall 24 of the cellar 22 extends outwardly therefrom and is channeled in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 to receive the lower half of a-dust guard 4|. Circumferential grooves 42 are provided in the bottom surface of this channeled portion of the wall 24, the outer one of which is adapted to receive a flange 43 (Fig. 9) on the outer surface of the dust guard 4|. The inner surface of the dust guard 4| is provided with a plurality of serrations or grooves 44, and is adapted to be maintained in engagement with the journal by means of a pair of springs 45 disposed in suitable apertures 46 provided in the upper channeled portion of the end wall 24.

, The upper and lower portions of the dust guard 4| are separate from each other, and together form a ring completely encircling the journal l, as will be seen from Figs. 1 and '7, The upper half of the dust guard 4| is mounted in a flanged retainer 41 in similar manner to the mounting of the lower half in the wall 24 of the cellar 22.

' The dust guard retainer 41 is semi-circular in pressing the plate 32 upwardly to resiliently maintain the oil-saturated pad 33 in engagement with the under surface of the journal The lubricator 3| normally remains in the cellar 22, and may be removed from the journal box l3 with the cellar. The front or inside end wall 24 of the cellar is provided with a gauge or sight glass 38 (Figs. 1 and 7) to permit ready inspection of the oil level within the. cellar, and with shape and is secured to the inner end wall of the journal box |3 by suitable studs 48 (Figs. 1 and 7) Springs 45, arranged in similar manner to those previously described, are provided for the purpose of resiliently maintaining the upper portion of the dust guard 4| in engagement with the journal II. In order to maintain the upper portion of the dust guard 4| in the retainer 41 when the latter is removed from the journal box l3, however, a bolt 43 is provided which extends upwardly through suitable apertures in the upper portion of the dust guard 4| and the retainer 41, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 10.

It is preferred that both the upper and lower portions of thedust guard 4|, which together form 'a complete ring, be made of brass, although any other suitable material may be employed which will not score the journal Oil attempting to escape along the surface of the journal will be collected in the grooves 44 of the dust guard 4|, and a suitable aperture is provided in the channeled portion of the end wall 24 of the cellar, as shown in Fig. 8, con necting the inner groove 42 to the interior of the cellar to drain away any excess oil that may be thus collected by the dust guard. The close fit of the ring 4| with the journal, as maintained by the springs 45, will effectively prevent any dust or otherforeign matter from entering the journal box or cellar from the inner end thereof.

Means are also provided for preventing dust or any other foreign matter from entering the cellar 22 from its outer end. The upper portion of the outer or rear wall 25 of the cellar is formed with a groove 5| (Figs. 7 and 8) within which is seated a semi-circular dust guard 52. The central or lowest portions of the groove 5| and the dust guard 52 are flattened, as shown at 53 in Fig. 4, and a leaf spring 54 'is inserted in the groove beneaththe guard at this point to press the latter upwardly against the-journal. The guard itself is preferably formed as a metal channel in which is seated a flexible, oil-proof strip, as shown in Fig. 7. I

Means are provided for supplying limited amounts of oil from the celler 22 for lubrication of the inner face of the hub I2 of the wheel.

This means comprises a pair of, oil saturated pads 55 of felt, or any other suitable material (Figs. 4, .5, 7 and 8'). The rear wall 25 of the cellar is formed with under-cut recesses 56 (Fig. for receiving and retaining the pads 55. A pair of holes 51 are drilled through the rear wall 25 for communication between each of the recesses 56 and a shallow trough 58 formed inside the cellar on the offset portions 26 of its side walls 23. The troughs '58 arekept full and supplied ;with oil by splashing, from the' main body of oil in the bottom of the cellar and by drainage from the flanges :29 on. the inner sidewalls of the journal box, as will be apparent from Fig. 1. The holes 5'! permit a limited'amount of the oil in the associated trough 58 to be supplied to the related pad .55, thereby insuring proper lubrication .of the inner face of the hub I2 of the wheel .and the outer bearing face 59 of the journal box.

The entire cellar 22 is movable longitudinally on the side portions l9 of the spacer I1, and is yieldably held in its rear-most or outermost position of Fig. 7 to maintain the pads 55 in contact with the inner face of the hub l2; The means for so holding the cellar in such position also locks the cellar against removal from the journal box I3, while at the same time enabling the cellar to absorb excessive lateral shocks from the wheel by permitting limited resilient move- 'ment of the cellar relative to thezspacer and journal boxlongitudinally of the journal. For this purpose, there are provided two swinging latches 6| (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) which are pivotally mounted on studs 52 projecting forwardly from the front or inward horizontal portion l8 of the spacer IT. The studs '62 maybe formed integrally with the spacer H, but it is preferred that the rearwardly disposed head portions thereof be welded to the-front surface of the transverse member l8 of'thespacer. The lower portions of the latches 6| for'm handles, and their upper portions 63 have theirrear surfaces rounded, as shown in Fig. 2, to engage wear plates 64 with a camming action. Each wear plate 64 is provided intermediate its ends with a downwardly recessed or curved portion 65. The inher end of each wear plate is angularly disposed relative to the front surface of the wall 24 of the cellar 22, and slopes rearwardly from the cellar (Fig. 1) andjcontacting the front face of the: journal box [3,. Limited forward or inward movement, of the, cellar 22 relative to the spacer I] and journal box 13 from this. rearward position, however, will be permitted by the springsv 66, to absorb excessive lateral shocks from the wheel. vThis arrangement will prevent undue wear of the hub lubricating pads 55, as well as damage to the cellar, to insure proper lubricationof the'inner surface .of the hub l2 of the wheel. 1

As has been noted,.siwinging of the latches 0| until their upperends 63 disengage the wear,

plates 64 on the front Wall .of the cellar will enable the cellar 22 to be pulled out of the journal box I3 for inspection, cleaning, or replacement of its lubricator. 31, without necessitating dismantling of the journal box by removal of the spacer bolts 2|. It has been found in practice, however, that vthis-arrangement may result in loss of the cellar 22 and lubricator 3|: from the journal box, through the carelessness of an operator in failing to swing the latches 6| into their locking position after insertion of the cellar into the journal box. Means are provided for automatically preventing accidental displacementof the cellar 22 from the journal box after it has been slid into its position of the drawings. This means comprises a latch H (Figs. 1, 3 and 7) which is mounted for verticalmovement centrally of the front or' inner transverse member I8 of the spacer H. To this end, the front transverse member I8 is provided with an aper-tured lug l2 and; a ledge or shelf 13 formed integrally therewith and extending forwardly therefrom in spaced relationship to each other. The latch H ismounted for sliding vertical movenientin the forward portion of its. latch 6| and retained in I position by a nut 61 mounted upon and rigidly secured to the outer end portion of the stud 52.

If the upper ends 63 of each of the latches 6| are swung inwardly and downwardly from their position of Fig. 1, the cellar '22 will be free to be slid inwardly, or to the right in Fig. 7, and removed from thejournal box l3. When in their position of the drawings, the upper ends 63 of the latches 6| will engage the recessed portions 65 of the wear plates 64 and be held therein by the springs 66 to resiliently maintain the cellar 22 in the journal box at the limit of its rearward movement, which is defined by flanges 68 projecting laterally from the front wall 24 of the recessprovided in the 111g 12, and is resiliently maintained in its uppermost position by a spring 14 interposed between-the lower .end of the latch and the ledge 13. Upward movementof the latch H by the spring 14 is limited by a pin .15 (Fig. 3) extending through the latch and'contacting the under surface of the lug 12. A suitable aperture '56 is provided in the lower portion of. the latch H (Fig. 3) to enable the latch to be depressed against the spring 14.1uI'n its normal position of the drawings, the upper end of the latch H is in the path of movement of the forward surface of the inner guide lug 2'! provided on the bottom of the cellar. While a certain amount of relative movement between the cellar '22 and the spacer I! will thus be permitted, the latch II will prevent withdrawal of-the, cellar :from the journal box, unless "manually depressed against the action of the spring 14. The upper end of the latch H is chamfered or slopes down-.

wardly and outwardly, so that the latch willbe automatically depressed "by the lugs .21 when the cellar is being slid rearwardly into the journal box;

From this description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, it will beseen that the several objects previously recited have been fully accomplished and incorporated in a practical and simplified construction... The man'- her of locking the cellar in the journal box not only permits the desired resilient movement of the cellar relative to the box longitudinally of the journal, but enables the complete removal of the cellar from the box without necessitating any dismantling of the latter. At the same time,

proper lubrication of the inner surface of the wheel hub is accomplished, regardless of the operating conditions encountered. Servicing of the journal box is greatly simplified, and the usual loss of oil from the cellar and the entry therein of dirt and other foreign material is effectively prevented; Another distinct advantage of the present construction lies in the provision of the automatically operable cellar safety latch, since the possibility of loss of the cellar and its lubricator from the journal box through carelessness, which is inherent in any construction employing a simple manually operable cellar locking means, is completely eliminated.

It is thoughtthat the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that'various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the .form hereinbefore' described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

- 1. A journal structure, comprising a box partially surrounding the journal adjacent a wheel hub, .a' bearing at one end of the box for the face of the wheel hub, an oil cellar mounted in the box beneath the journal, a trough disposed interiorly of saidcellar along a side wall and above the bottom thereof to receive oil from the latter by splashing, and means for supplying a limited'amount of oil from said trough to said wheel hub face and said end bearing.

2. A journal structure, comprising a box partially surrounding the journal adjacent a wheel hub and having horizontal, under-cut flanges extending along the inner side walls thereof, a bearing at one end of the box for the face of the wheel hub, an oil cellar slidably mounted in saidbox beneath the journal and'having side walls'fitted'ben'eath and exteriorly of said'undercut flanges, means disposed interiorly of said cellar for'automatically supplying oil from the bottomthereof to the under side of the journal, troughs disposed interiorly of said cellar along the sidewalls thereof to receive excess oil supplied to the journal by drainage from said undercut flanges, and means for supplying oil from said troughs to said wheel hub face and said end bearing.

3. A journal structure for locomotive axles comprising a box having an open bottom, a removable spacer bridging said open bottom, said spacer having elevated longitudinal members adjacent the sidesof the box, a bearing in the upper portion of the box resting upon the axle, a

bearing at one end of the box for the face of the wheel hub, a lubricant container mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in the box beneath the axle, said container having a bottom, end walls and sidewalls, said side walls having inverted shoulders above said bottom resting upon the elevated members of said spacer, said shoulders' forminginterior troughs within the container, the end wall of said container adjacent the face of the wheel hub having exterior recesses aligned with said troughs and said end wall having lubricant conducting apertures connecting said troughs with said recesses, absorbent pads mounted in said recesses and positioned for contact with the face'of the hub, said pads conducting lubricant from said troughs to said face, means within the container for conducting lubricant upwardly to theaxle'journal, and resilient locking means for removably. holding the container in position within the box.

4. A journal structure'forlocomotive journals comprising a box partially surrounding the journal adjacent the wheel, a bearing in the upper portion of the box resting upon. the journal, a bearing at one end of the box'for th'e' face of the wheel hub, a slidable oil cellariinlthe box beneath the journal, means insaidicellar for con veying oil upwardly to' said journal, means carried by one end of the cellarifor receiving oil therefrom and conveying it to the face of the hub, and manually operable means for resiliently locking said cellar in said box and maintaining resilient contact between said hub. lubricating means and said hub face.

5. A journal "structure for locomotive journals comprising a box partially surrounding the journal adjacent the Wheel, a bearing" in the upper portion of the box resting upon the journal, a bearing at one end of the boxfor the face of the wheel hub, a slidably removable oilcellar in the box beneath the journal, means in said cellar for conveying oil upwardly to said'journal, means for maintaining said journal lubricating means ,in contact with said journal, means carried by one end of the cellar for receiving oil therefrom and conveying it to the face of the hub, and manually operable means for resiliently locking said cellar in said box and maintaining resilient contact between said hub lubricating means and said hub face.

6. A journal structure for locomotive journals comprising a box partially surrounding the jour-i nal adjacent the Wheel hub, a bearingin the upper portion of the box restingupon the journal, a bearing at one end of the box for the face of the wheel hub, a slidablynremovable oil cellar in the box beneath the journal, resilient means in said cellar for conveying oiliupwardly'to said journal, said resilient meansincluding means for maintaining contact with said journaL-van ab sorbent pad positionedatone endofthe cellar to receive oil therefrom and-means for establishing and maintainingv resilient contact betweenysaid pad and the face ofthe hub comprising a manually operable means for'resiliently locking said cellar in said box. 'i

7. A journal structure for locomotive journals comprising a box partially surrounding the journal adjacent the wheel hub, a bearing in the upper portion of the box resting upon the journal, a bearing at one end of the box for the face ofthe wheel hub, an oil cellar mounted in the box for longitudinal sliding movement beneath said journal, means in said cellar-forconveying oil upwardly to said journal, absorbent means resiliently contacting said hub face in one end of said cellar for conveying oil to the facerof the hub, and manually operable meansfor resiliently locking said cellar in said box and maintaining con- 

